POPE Benedict XVI is to attempt to “salvage” the true identity of Jesus as revealed in the scriptures from the impact of works such as The Da Vinci Code.

In Jesus of Nazareth, to be published this week, the Pope will attempt to end the distinction between the historical Jesus and the “Christ of faith”.

Although the Pope does not name Dan Brown’s bestseller, which was made into a film starring Tom Hanks, he specifically criticises “recent popular depictions” of Jesus.

The Da Vinci Code claims that Jesus did not die on the cross, that he married Mary Magdalene, had a child with her, and that the church went to extraordinary lengths to conceal the secret.

Meanwhile Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ has depicted the high priest Caiaphas as the villain, and hence the Jews as responsible, for exerting pressure on Pontius Pilate to execute Christ.

The fictional works reflect a broader movement in theology to separate the human from the divine Jesus, suggesting that the gospels present Jesus as a prophet or reformer rather than as God himself.

The Pope describes his book as a personal search for “the face of the Lord” rather than an official statement of doctrine. But his willingness to engage with populist depictions of Jesus, as well as doubting theologians, has revealed a more subtle figure than the caricature of the former Cardinal Ratzinger as “God’s rottweiler”, the stern enforcer of orthodoxy.

Peter Geldard, Catholic chaplain of Kent University, said: “Here is a brilliant academic challenging the assumptions of the past 50 years. Western scholars have debunked the New Testament so much that there was nothing left you could rely on.

“Now, one of the astutest minds to occupy the papacy is challenging all of this and he has the humility to say if I’m wrong, show me I’m wrong. This biblical scholarship has helped to undermine belief.

“The present Pope is showing that some of it is based on false assumptions.”

Despite the papal doctrine of infallibility he makes a distinction between his personal beliefs and public persona, stating that “everyone is free . . . to contradict me”.

Ian Ker, the Roman Catholic scholar and historian who teaches at Oxford University, said: “The Pope is trying to get back to the basic essentials of the Christian faith in a positive way instead of attacking errors as he did in his former job.”

The Pope, who is on a pastoral visit to Brazil, stated that he rushed out the book because, “I do not know how much more time or strength I am still to be given”. He celebrated his 80th birthday last month.